Features

44 Pendennis Castle - The world traveller
With the return of Stanier 8Fs from Turkey and the possibility of six A4s lining up at York, the repatriation of British main line steam locomotives is a huge talking point at present, Peter Chatman reports on an engine which so nearly ended up permanently in exile, and on progress towards its eagerly-awaited return to steam.

70 Scotland first!
A third of a century ago, the Scottish Railway Preservation Society moved on to a derelict dockside site in Bo’ness and began building a railway of its own. Today it not only has a real gem of a line operating both steam and heritage diesels, but also a national railway museum for Scotland into the bargain - and one that is not too far for visitors south of the border too. Robin Jones visited the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway for the society’s 50th anniversary gala over the August bank holiday weekend to see for himself the magnificent progress to date, and look at the line’s future aspirations.

80 Retracing the ‘Ace’
47 years ago, as a prelude to the closure of most of the Southern Region’s ‘Withered Arm’ west of Exeter, the last ‘Atlantic Coast Express’ from Waterloo to Padstow ran. On September 4-6, Steam Dreams ambitiously attempted to take passengers on the ‘ACE’ to Padstow again, despite the absence of track for the last leg. Robin Jones rode in premier dining class to experience what turned out to be a great triumph over adversity involving the loss of two rostered train locomotives and displays of sheer professionalism by the organisers in the face of such difficulties.

94 Rails along the dockside
Of all Britain’s heritage lines, the Bristol Harbour Railway perhaps keeps the lowest profile of all. Yet it is a fascinating survivor, as Robin Whitlock reports, and would at last appear to have a secure future.

Regulars

6 Headline news
Midweek ban on East Coast Main Line steam imposed by Network Rail in wake of Doncaster fire incident; passenger numbers soar as heritage railways defy recession; GCU EMU car scrapped within days of sale; Foxcote Manor late booking for North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Statfold Barn Railway unveils latest steam locomotive to be restored and how a blocked dock gate held up a steam gala.

10 News
Rother Valley Railway given £500K boost to rejoin Kent & East Sussex; Great Western Society celebrates 50th; gala action from North Norfolk, Swanage, Nene Valley, Pontypool & Blaenavon and Ffestiniog/Welsh Highland; why Lyd is the second L&B replica to carry green; Duchess of Sutherland to carry BR green; City of Truro fails with leaking boiler tubes; success of Apedale’s Made in Staffordshire event; chime whistle for Dominion of New Zealand; Stainmore Summit conquered again in 150 celebrations, Bridgnorth Cliff Railway sold and why the Snowdon Mountain Railway had to bring a 4x4 vehicle down the mountain by train.

56 Main line news
Ongoing repercussions of a serious incident involving Sir Lamiel on the East Coast Main Line, Britannia runs out of water, five year extension for Clan Line, Princess Elizabeth derailed again, a turntable for Weymouth?

50 Platform
The pages where your views matter most. In this issue, did BR’s steam ban end as the result of a conversation with a hitch-hiker?

54 Centre
An atmospheric view of Princess Elizabeth making an evening departure from Huddersfield is this month’s centre spread.

61 Main line itinerary
Brian Sharpe’s definitive guide to steam and heritage modern traction railtours.

62 The Thin red line
David Wilcock reports from the Severn Valley Railway on the activities of the ‘Crazy Gang’, a group of one-time BR steam footplatemen, and reports the return of steam to the Glyn Valley for the first time since the legendary tramway closed in 1935..

68 Off the shelf
Reviews of the latest books and DVDs.

88 Scale Heritage Railway
A Princess with sound, a static Flying Scotsman in TT scale and more Hawksworth coaches in GWR livery.

92 Railwayana
Geoff Courtney’s regular update on the latest auction prices and what is coming up for sale.

98 Up & Running
Brian Sharpe’s complete listing of operational heritage lines and museum venues.